INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE STRATEGY WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR? Woolwich is changing. Recent new developments and the arrival of Crossrail are creating a huge opportunity for tranformation in Woolwich. This strategy aims to ensure that everyone can benefit from the changes taking place, and that Woolwich changes for the better. The Royal Borough of Greenwich, with consultants Urban Initiatives Studio (UIS), have responded to the opportunities and issues in Woolwich and have drawn up a vision for the town. This has been carried out in conjunction with local businesses, community groups and residents from Woolwich - ensuring that the strategy responds to what people really need. This consultation is aimed at sharing our current proposals and receiving feedback and comments from the wider public. The public consultation will run for 2 weeks, starting on 6th February and ending on 22nd February. This strategy will inform the preparation of Supplementary Planning Guidance which will guide new development and urban design interventions in the town. STUDY AREA Woolwich Dockyards Royal Arsenal The area of interest for this study is Woolwich town centre and the Royal Arsenal. The Woowich Dockyards are also included within the study area as they are important for the context of the town centre. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED 78 people were interviewed on the streets of Woolwich over two days in August 208. They were asked about what they liked and disliked about the town centre, the purpose of their visit and how they travelled. Some of those people interviewed are pictured below. The comments are summarised on the right. PURPOSE OF VISITING THE TOWN CENTRE Usually for shopping (particularly groceries) and for transport PARTS OF WOOLWICH VISITED Many people who live outside the Royal Arsenal do not go into the area and don t feel welcome there Residents of the Royal Arsenal tend to visit the town centre only for transport and occasional grocery shopping Many people enjoy using the riverfront for walks or exercise, although a route from the town centre is not clear HOW DO YOU COME TO THE TOWN CENTRE Many people travelling from surrounding areas (Shooters Hill, Plumstead, etc.) take the bus or walk to the town centre WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT WOOLWICH Diversity of town Sense of community Shops and High Street Access to transport and TV screen The Royal Arsenal area The market Vibrant and animated town centre WHAT YOU DISLIKE ABOUT WOOLWICH Lack of variety of shops and tired high street Unclean - town does not feel cared for Unsafe - perception of violence and insecurity, particularly at night The divide between the town centre and the Royal Arsenal Locals worried about gentrification Market has nothing of interest for some people WHAT SHOULD CHANGE More variety of shops more upmarket shops and typical high street shops. Less betting shops and discount stores Better food and drink offer particularly restaurants The town should be cleaner and safer More events and activities Improve the general environment and public realm More things for kids to do such as a playground Shared workspace for people who work from home More culture and improved leisure offer Improve and upgrade the market HOW TO GET INVOLVED We want your views on the plans which have been prepared. Please take your time to review the ideas set out here, or visit our website where you can download these boards to study at your leisure: www.consultations.royalgreenwich.gov.uk Please complete the questionnaire and leave it in the comments box. Alternatively, email to planning.policy@royalgreenwich.gov.uk We will need to receive your comments by 2th February 209 in order for them to be considered. You can post your response to: Planning Policy Royal Borough of Greenwich The Woolwich Centre Wellington Street Woolwich SE8 6HQ
UNDERSTANDING 2 WOOLWICH A CHANGING TOWN CENTRE Growing from a rich history, Woolwich is currently undergoing unprecedented change. Now is the time to capitalise on the area's strengths, deal with its issues and celebrate what we love about Woolwich. A PLACE WITH A RICH HISTORY TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL TOWN CENTRE Woolwich has a long history tied to the military, with the Royal Arsenal and the Royal Artillary Barracks to either side of the town centre. The town centre itself has long been a hub for commerce which is reflected in the built heritage along. There are also fine examples of Art Deco architecture and the town has a unique relationship with the River Thames, particularly around Woolwich Dockyard. The diagram below provides an assessment of how well Woolwich is functioning, based on ten criteria for a successful town centre. BERESFORD SQUARE 9 Woolwich scores well as a transport interchange, in providing for everyday needs and for its distinct character and accessibility. Where is it clear the town needs to improve is in providing employment space, improving its cultural/leisure and eating out offer, and making the most of its location on the riverfront. More work could also be done to make Woolwich cleaner and safer, and to provide more high quality open spaces. WOOLWICH FERRY 92 HARE STREET 9 OPPORTUNITIES ISSUES HERITAGE RIVER THAMES BUSY, NOISY ROADS ACTING AS BARRIERS VACANT UNITS CROSSRAIL DEVELOPER INTEREST POOR WALKING ENVIRONMENT DISCONNECTION FROM THE RIVER THAMES
VISION WHAT WE WANT WOOLWICH TO BE The 2 statements shown below are the guiding principles for the strategy. Each objective can contribute to making Woolwich a more successful town centre, which serves those people that live, work and visit the town.. A PLACE THAT FEELS LIKE A SINGLE TOWN 2. A PLACE THAT IS WELL CONNECTED WITH THE RIVER THAMES. A DISTINCTIVE PLACE WITH A STRONG IDENTITY. A WALKABLE PLACE THAT IS EASY TO GET TO Reconnect parts of Woolwich that are divided and offer something for everyone. Provide easy access to the riverfront and provide amenities and leisure activities. Celebrate Woolwich's heritage and strengthen the town's character. Make it easy and enjoyable to walk into and around Woolwich.. A PLACE WITH HIGH QUALITY TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE 6. A PLACE THAT SERVES EVERYDAY NEEDS 7. AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO LIVE 8. A PLACE TO WORK Improve connections and walking routes between bus, overground, rail and Crossrail. Provide more variety and encourage shopping in the town centre. Make Woolwich a desirable place to live for existing and future residents. Provide suitable workspace for a variety of businesses. 9. A PLACE TO MEET AND GO OUT 0. A MULTICULTURAL PLACE. AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE WITH WELCOMING STREETS AND SPACES 2. A PLACE THAT IS SAFE, WELL MANAGED AND CARED FOR Improve the town's evening economy, restaurant offer and leisure options. Celebrate the many cultures in Woolwich, and make everyone feel welcome. Ensure the public realm is inviting and pedestrians feel safe. Improve policing, cleaning and maintenance.
THE STRATEGY CONCEPT MASTERPLAN The analysis, vision and objectives have informed the Concept Masterplan pictured below. This plan illustrates a number of important spatial interventions and sets the scene for the more detailed aspects of the strategy. CONCEPT DIAGRAM Key public space and connectivity interventions are numbered on the plan: Connected public spaces; 2 Waterfront Living Woolwich Old Town No. Street Town Centre Core Royal Arsenal Royal Arsenal Business Quarter New square on the riverfront; 2 Continuous river promenade; Transform the South Circular Road and the into an avenue with tree planting; Attractive walking routes leading into the centre. The Concept Diagram on the left illustrates the basic principles of the strategy. It shows a number of character areas in Woolwich and proposes the following aproach to each: Town Centre Core - high density, mixed use transport hub with linked public spaces, civic functions and evening economy; Royal Arsenal - quality residential area with historic character and creative district; Waterfront Living - new high density housing in a green setting; Woolwich Old Town - fine grain, historic shopping and mixed use area, reconnected with the river; Southern Fringe - residential intensification of the town centre edge; and Business Quarter - retained as long term employment business resource. Southern Fringe LAND USES The following land use principles are proposed: Town Centre to be generally mixed use Enhance role of as main comparison retail destination Concentrate cafes, restaurants and bars in clusters, including on Anglesea Road and the / Waterfront No. Street Active ground floors with a flexible range of uses to animate streets m+ high ground floor units, weather tight with basic fit-out for immediate flexible use accommodation. Interim use for employment / culture until permanent occupiers are found Provide small and medium workspaces, flexible workspaces and co-working space at ground floor of new developments throughout the town centre Retain existing light industrial spaces Residential intensification encouraged in upper floors in buildings Mix of housing types, including for families Residential-led blocks towards the town centre fringe Residential amenity spaces to be provided as standard
OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC REALM A BETTER URBAN ENVIRONMENT An important part of this strategy is making Woolwich an attractive and welcoming place for pedestrians and cyclists. This involves improving the public realm and creating new public spaces that people want to use. Proposals are numbered on the plan below. PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS No. Street 2 7 6 8 WATERFRONT PLAZA SQUARE ON POWIS STREET LINEAR PARK TO WATERFRONT IMPROVEMENTS TO ST MARY'S GARDENS 2 PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS TO POWIS STREET AND HARE STREET IMPROVED PUBLIC REALM CONNECTING BERESFORD SQUARE AND GENERAL GORDON SQUARE MONK STREET IMPROVEMENTS POCKET SPACES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN CENTRE 6 7 8
MOVEMENT 6 AN ACCESSIBLE TOWN CENTRE The presence of strategic roads and a poor street environment means Woolwich is currently uninviting for pedestrians and cyclists. This strategy proposes a number of interventions to make the town more accessible, improve safety, and to improve the bus network. MANAGING VEHICLE MOVEMENT MAKING IT EASIER TO WALK No. Street No. Street The following changes to the movement network are proposed: The and become key bus corridors with dedicated bus lanes; The town centre becomes predominantly pedestrian priority; creating friendly spaces and routes to support walking and cycling; Vehicles can access car parks and service businesses, but can't travel through the town centre; and Thomas Street and the eastern end of Woolwich New Road become bus and cycle access only, enabling these streets to become more pedestrian friendly. To improve connections within Woolwich, the map above identifies many small projects each of which are circled in red. These include: Better pedestrian crossings on the and ; Delivering a continuous riverfront walkway; A new direct connection from to the riverfront; and Establishing and improving many back streets in the town centre to improve permeability and create new frontages for businesses. PROPOSED CYCLE NETWORK REFINED BUS NETWORK No. Street Crossrail Station Study Area Boundary Segregated cycle tracks Shared bus and cycle lane Traffic free cycle path Quiet streets for cycling There is huge untapped potential for cycling in Woolwich. The main interventions proposed are as follows: A coherent cycle network across the town centre providing links in all directions, while avoiding pedestrian areas at, and ; A potential cycle route connecting Woolwich to Greenwich along Woolwich Road; Creation of a traffic-calmed, quieter street environment and introduction of traffic-free shared pedestrian/cycle paths; and A potential cycle path through Woolwich Foot Tunnel. Existing bus routes in the town centre are confusing with buses taking different routes in each direction; The bus network has been simplified to bring routes together in each direction. This means passengers can board a bus in either direction from the same street; Some routes have been moved onto Street to interchange with Crossrail, avoiding ; and This reduces bus dominance and improves safety around, providing opportunities to redesign Woolwich New Road and Thomas Street as pedestrian friendly streets.
MANAGING DEVELOPMENT 7 GUIDING NEW DEVELOPMENT There is huge pressure for development in Woolwich. This part of the strategy shows how we can accommodate new development within the town while strengthening Woolwich's identity and character, and creating a coordinated skyline. BUILDING HEIGHTS DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES No. Street Within the historic town centre, the height of proposed buildings are generally storeys at the street frontage with potential for additonal storeys set back from building line, without impeding on the scale and character of the existing streets. Outside the historic centre, heights can rise to or 6 storeys with potential for additional set back storeys. The design of new developments should follow the Parapet Line Principle, shown on the right. There may be potential for taller buildings in certain locations, if they are set back within the block. This is shown in the plan below, Coordinating Tall Buildings. PARAPET LINE PRINCIPLE New developments should match their parapet height to that of existing buildings in the street, maintaining the character and scale of the street There is potential for additional storeys if they are set back from the building line. COORDINATING TALL BUILDINGS No. Street Strengthen existing clusters of tall buildings and identify locations for further tall buildings while protecting the parts of the town which are unsuitable for tall development Building heights step up towards the existing tall building clusters along the waterfront and on Plumstead Road This creates a mediation of height between the historic town centre and the newer tall developments, and a sense of legibility A landmark tower is proposed next to the ferry to mark this important location. A number of mid-rise tall buildings are proposed throughout the town to act as local landmarks, such as on Spray Street and Kingsman Street. LEGIBLE SKYLINE Not just a scattering of towers Needs organisation with a hierarchy and clustering Consideration of panoramic and approach views Height should be meaningful Clear justification is required for tall buildings BUILDINGS STEP UP TOWARDS CLUSTERS Building heights step up towards the existing tall building clusters along the waterfront and on Plumstead Road
MEANWHILE USES 8 ANIMATING VACANT SPACES Woolwich has many vacant buildings, shop fronts and empty sites. Making use of these spaces on a temporary basis is known as "Meanwhile". It can bring life to empty spaces, create a buzz and foster creativity and entrepreneurship. The plan below shows some initial ideas for Meanwhile activities. IDEAS FOR ACTIVATING WOOLWICH'S UNDERUSED SPACES A NEW PURPOSE FOR VACANT YARDS No. Street CO-WORKING SPACES TEMPORARY CAFES AND RESTAURANTS POP UP SHOPS ACTIVATE CAR PARK WHAT HAPPENS NEXT We want to know what you think of the emerging strategy for Woolwich. Have we got it right? Please take your time to review the ideas set out here, or visit our website where you can download these boards to study at your leisure: www.consultations.royalgreenwich.gov.uk Please complete the questionnaire and leave it in the comments box. Alternatively, email to planning.policy@royalgreenwich.gov.uk We will need to receive your comments by 2th February 209 in order for them to be considered. You can post your response to: Planning Policy Royal Borough of Greenwich The Woolwich Centre Wellington Street Woolwich SE8 6HQ